Musketeer Madness

Travis seems like a nice person and has recruited well, but being sub 500 in the big east the last 3 years and consistently missing the tourney, it’s time for a change.

Bringing back Chris Mack would be a win/win.

I hope it happens

I’d take Mack back in a NY minute. The rebuild processs is going to take much longer the longer this clown stays on as head coach.

The way Mack quit on X I’d rather have Miller with his baggage. Miller is a lot better coach anyway. Unfortunately we can call for any coach but it won’t matter. X won’t cut Steele loose. It’s all about the dollars.

OldHoopster is spot on. Mack quit on X, and many of you do not even know the half of it, so this needs to be presented to cement this once and for all, I am going to state something right here and now that should, and I repeat SHOULD, cause 100% on this board to never bring up Mr. Chris Mack’s name again for X head coaching consideration. I love XU and our B-ball program besides coming off as negative sometimes- that only stems from my devotion and passion and personal nature. Trust me, I bleed Xavier blue and lose sleep over this stuff. Rarely do I have any “insider” info because I am not involved in the program or university and haven’t been for decades. I always appreciate those on this board that do. But I did have an insight years ago on Vanilla Ice, aka, Chris Mack. This insight was pure and reliable, that I can assure you, based on my lifelong experience reading people. For several years starting about 9 years ago, I became friends with a family from my parish because of coaching b-ball for my kids. Both for the parish and their AAU club teams. The father of this family I came to know well and spent lots of time with as his kid was on my team for a few years and also played on other teams with one of my little ones. Fast forward in time to the beginning of Xavier’s 2017/2018 season. Boy were we feeling good about Blueitt, JP, Sean and a damn good supporting cast. Rightfully so. We had Chris Mack, whom we had no reason to believe was also pumped and ready to go for all the marbles. Started the yr ranked 8th I believe. Wound up ranked in top 5 and a #1 seed for The Dance. We all recall this like it was yesterday, why am I dwelling on it? Cuz when in the hell was a program like X ever before or since going to have this kind of dream season, we ain’t Duke or Kentucky you know. And therein lies the point. This was our time to shine, our moment in the sun, win lose or draw it was a season all X fans who love the program should embrace and cherish. Chris Mack did not………………………. I believe I briefly alluded to this years ago on this board. In light of this post, I feel I must again. This is all 1000% true. So the gentleman I referenced above who I befriended during shared time at sporting events for our kids was also a Xavier alum. Who loved X as I did and deeply followed the program. He was also in the same graduating yr as Mack and hung with Chris and stayed friends to some degree over the years. This particular gentleman is also an esteemed business leader here in town and not one to flap his gums or embellish. So we are at a sporting event in early November for club ball. The D1 season is just about to start. I am sitting with a few parents after a game and this gentleman and I start talking about our Muskies and he blows my mind stating that Chris has already been in talks with Louisville and has secretly verbally assured them that he would accept the head coaching job right after this season. I was flabberghasted. I pressed him and he matter of factly confirmed that Chris’ inner circle all knew this. Much later in the season I read a few posts from some others on this board alluding to this rumor and that even the players suspected or knew prior to selection Sunday. After the season we learned that Mack had not been pouring his heart & soul into recruiting for X during that last season and had even been subtly making recruiting overtures for Louisville. So as it all played out, my buddy was indeed spot on, in that, before the season even started Chris Mack’s mind & soul was out the door. This in a once in a multi decade opportunity for X to make a Final Four where the stars had aligned. Folks, plain and simply, in the axiom of college sports, this is no less than High Treason. Period, end of story. Sorry for the very long post. But Chris Mack’s actions and lack of ethical & professional courtesy to a university that was paying him and entrusting him to steward their program was no less than a Brutus style stab in the back. So NO to Chris Mack ever being allowed to have anything to do with Xavier basketball. No, no and F’in hell no..!

As to the post above, I heard the exact same story from people I’ve come to trust re: X. I have no idea in which direction the university will go regarding the coaching situation. So I too am a hard no to Mack. Either way I’m afraid we are in for a rebuild. Hopefully this is the floor and we are back on our way up.

I'd also ask, how many years did Mack overachieve? How many years did his teams underachieve?

My view is that Mack teams overachieved 1 year and underachieved 4+. He recruited well but has many of the same flaws that Travis has. He fortunately had shooters many years so his coaching philosophy was more successful.

Never. Mack is Benedict Arnold. He left the most classless, selfish , heartless way possible. Miller would be my choice though it has taken me 7 years to stop hating him. Sounds like he has no problems bending the rules which is scary but he can coach. From what I've read he was missing Xavier a couple years after he left. If we are going to give a guy a second chance I would go with Miller. Mack can rot as far as I am concerned. He burned the bridge behind him. As much as I want a new coach We should NEVER consider Mack.

Thanks for the post and I agree that is pretty much what I heard as well even though chastised me at length. I would take Miller back in heartbeat but I think Xavier has the balls to bring him back although I hear he bought a crib in Cincy recently.

Hire Sean Miller. Much better coach, always was complimentary of Xavier even after he left for Arizona. We don't want Chris Mack.